The indoor pool at the Evergreen State College is kept as warm as a summer's day. But it's what's happening inside the women's locker room that's drawing heat.
Some call it an outrage; others, equal rights - after a 45 year old student, Colleen Francis, born a man, began to use the women's locker room, because the student identifies as a woman. A young girl saw the student naked. Her mother called police. As a compromise, the college put up "privacy curtains" and allowed the transgender student to use the women's facilities.
The decision isn't sitting well with critics; the college, meantime, argues it's a question of civil rights.
Jason Wettstein, Evergreen State College spokesman said, "The college has to follow state law. The college cannot discriminate based on the basis of gender identity. Gender identity is one of the protected things in discrimination law in this state.
But the law says otherwise, argues Arizona-based religious liberties group "Alliance Defending Freedom." They sent a letter to the college warning it "may be held liable" if something happens in the locker room.
"We're obeying the law," Wettstein said. "We're working to accommodate the privacy needs of multiple users."
For now, the college is keeping its policy "afloat" - hoping to "sink" critics - and their arguments.
Joseph Backholm is the Director of the Family Policy Institute of Washington, he said, "Most of us who have daughters have the expectation that when our daughters are in women's restrooms they will not be exposed to naked men."
